Blue-printing apparatus.



PATBNTED JULY 19, 1904.

J. H. WAGENHORST. BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILEDUG. 18, 1903,

B SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

@Vi l'neoaea PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

J. H. WAGENHORST. BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1903. Y

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

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PATENTBD JULY 19, 1904.

J. H. WAGENHORST. BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL;

PATPNTPD 'JULY 19, 1904.

J. H. WAGPNHORST. BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1903.

No' MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

f 23/ a.. @A 372W (J v wen l'oz PATBNTED JULY 19, 1904. J. H. WAGENHORST. BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1903.

. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

NO MODEL.

No. 765,406. PATBNTED JULY 19, 1904. J. H. WAGENHORST.

BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1a. 1903. No MODEL. e SHEETS-SHEET a, n

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Patented July 19, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT UEEICE.

JAMES H. VAGENHORST, OF MANSFIELD, GHIO.

BLUE-PRINTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,406, dated July 19, 1904.

Application tiled August 18, 14903. Serial No. 169.894. (No model.)

To (all whom it 'nM/l/ cm1/cern.'

Be it known that l, JAMES H. WAGENi-Ions'r, a citizen or' the United States, residing' at Mansiield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented a new and uset'ul Improvement in Blue-Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates generally to blueprinting apparatuses in which an electric-arc light is used in connection with a glass cylinder, around which the drawings and sensitized paper are held by means of a spring-actuated curtain, such as are shown and described in the patent granted to me February 17, 1903, No. 720,862.

rlhe object ot the invention is to provide a novel means for loweringthe electric light into the cylinder, said means being' capable ot' regulation, so that the speed of descent may be regulated with accuracy, so as to expose the prints to the light the exact length ot' time required.

Another object of the invention is to provide for automatically cutting' otll the light the moment the light has traversed the entire height otl the glassthercby avoiding overexposure or burning of the print.

Another object ot' the invention is to provide for cutting oil' the light and stopping' its descent at any predetermined time, thereby rendering the apparatus capable ot' use for making' large or small prints, and a still further object is to provide for shutting' oii light at any desired time by either hand or foot power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guiding-bracket in connection with the lamp for the purpose ot' preventing the shadows of the lamp-bracket and wire connections being thrown upon the prints.

1V ith these various objects in view the invention consists in the employment of a glass cylinder arranged to rotate upon a base to which the line of Wires are connected, said glass cylinder having an upright wooden strip arranged in connection therewith, said wooden strip having a lamp-bracket extending upwardly from its upper end, an electric lamp suspended from a cable passing' over a pulley carried by the bracket, said wooden strip also carrying means by which the descent of the lamp into the cylinder is regulated, said means being` adjustable, a switch adapted to be brought into contact with the connections upon the base, together with means t'or throwing' the said switch out ot' engagement with the base connections when desired.

The invention consists also in the employment of a cylinder having a piston working thereon, said piston being' provided with a bypass for controlling' the passage ot' liquid from one side otl the piston to the other, the rod ot' the piston being operatively connected with the cable 'for raising and lowering the lamp, whereby the speed ot' descent ot said lamp can be regulated.

The invention consists also in the peculiar construction ot' the strip arranged in connection with the cylinder and also in certain other details of construction and novelties ot combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

1n the drawings forming part oi' this speciiication, Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and showing' the operation thereof. Fig'. 2 is a vertical sectional view otthe saine, certain parts being shown in elevation. Fig'. 3 is a detail sectional view ot' the cylinder, the piston and the piston-rod being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line a c of Fig'. 3. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end ci the piston-rod and the piston arranged thereon. Fig. 5 isa sectional plan view taken on the line 5 oil Fig. 4. Fig'. 6 is a detail view partly in top plan and partly in section and illustrating' the operation ot' the guide connected to the lamp. Fig'. 7 is a detail perspective View oi' said guide. Fig. S is a side elevation showing a portion ot' the glass cylinder and metal rings connected thereto and also the wooden strip arranged in connection with the glass cylinder and carrying' the means for controlling' the descent of the lamp into the cylinder and also the means for operating the switch. Fig. 9 is a tace view of the wooden strip disconnected from the cylinder. Fig. l() isasideview of said strip. Fig. l1 isa sectional view on the line l1 l1 ot' Fig'. 10. Fig'. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2 1'2 ot' Fie'. l0.

TOO

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the fork for holding the knob when it is desired to hold the lamp in its elevated position. Fig. 14 is a detail view illustrating the operation of the guide in connection with the rack-bar and pinion. Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of the said guide. Fig. 16 isaview illustrating the cable for carrying the lamp, the pulleys and the drum around which the cable passes, the counterweight connected to the cable, and the permanent and adjustable buttons arranged upon the cable. Fig. 17 is a face view of the counterweight. Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the adjustable button. Fig. 19 is a face view of said button and the friction-spring carried thereby. Fig. 2O is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 20 20 of Fig. 2 and showing the spring-actu ated switch and the central post to which the line-wires are are connected. Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional view on the line 21 21 of Fig. 20, certain parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 22 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the contact-plates carried by the switch, and Fig. 23 is a detail sectional view on the line 23 23 of Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is a view showing the details of construction of the switch. Fig. 25 is a top plan view of the roller, showing the manner of connecting the wire thereto. Fig. 26 is a sectional view of the same. Figs. 27 and 28 are detail perspective views illustrating the footelever and pitman connected thereto for the purpose of operating the rod by foot-pressure. Figs. 29. 30, and 31 show details.

In carrying out my invention I employ a glass cylinder A, havingtop and bottom metal rings A', roller A2, carrying the curtain A3, all of said parts being substantially the same as those shown and described in my prior patent before referred to. In connection with the glass cylinder I employ a wooden strip B, against which the edges of the glass cylinder rest and to which metallic top and bottom rings are connected. Although I prefer to make the strip B of wood, it is obvious that other suitable material may be employed, if so desired, and in practice I prefer to build this strip with a face-piece B' and the side pieces B2, thereby providing a vertical guideway B3 upon the interior, and at the same time I provide shoulders Bi upon the exterior for the edges of the glass cylinder to rest against. The strip has an opening B5 near the top, a recess B adjacent the opening, and the bifurcation B7 at the lower end, the function of which will appear hereinafter. A curved bifurcated bracket C is connected to the upper end of the strip B, the upper end of said bracket extending directly over the center of the cylinder and carrying a pulley C', over which travels the cable D, carrying the electric-arc light E. It will thus be understood that in making the blue-prints the tracings or drawings and the sensitized papers are arranged upon the exterior of the glass cylinder and held in place by means of the curtain and spring-actuated roller carrying said curtain and that in order to make the prints the electric-arc light is lowered into the glass cylinder, and it is necessary that the electric light should descend gradually, and, furthermore, it is often desirable to regulate the speed of descent, as some prints may require more or less light-exposure than others. It is also desirable to cut off the light as soon as it accomplishes its purpose, thereby economizing in the use of the current, and itis with the idea of accomplishing these objects that I have devised the present means for controlling and regulating the descent of the lamp and the cutting off of the light. The cable D after passing around the pulley C' passes one or more times around a grooved drum F, said drum being journaled in boxes arranged upon opposite sides of the cut-out portion B5 of the strip. The cable then passes downwardly in the vertical guideway B3 and through the counterbalance-weight G, which slides vertically in the guideway B3, and the cable after passing through the counterbalanceweight Gr passes around a pulley C2, journaled in the bifurcated end B7 of the strip B, along the outer face of the strip through the opening B5, and over the grooved drum F again, and down to the counterweight, the end of the cable being connected to said weight, as shown at D'. The lamp E is slightly heavier than the counterbalance-weight G and will descend as soon as the cable is released; but the weight will make the descent gradually and at the same time keep the cable tight upon the pulleys and drum. For the purpose of securing the cable and holding the lamp in its elevated position I attach a button D2 permanently to the outer Hight of the cable, which button is adapted to engage the fork D3, fastened to the strip B adjacent its upper end, and so long as the button rests upon the fork thelamp will be held in its elevated position; but as soon as the button is disengaged from the fork the descent of the lamp will begin.

Mounted upon the shaft of the drum F 'La pinion H, which meshes with a rack-bar H', said rack-bar being held in engagement with the pinion by means of a guide H2, connected to an arm carried by one of the journal-boxes of the drum-shaft. The lower end of the rack-bar H' is connected to a piston-rod I, carrying a piston I', which works in a cylinder K, located in the recessed portion B6 of the strip B. This cylinder K has a detachable cap K', through which the piston works, said cap having an opening K2 to prevent the formation of a vacuum. The lower end of the piston-rod is threaded, as shown at I2, and in the extreme end of the piston-rod is produced a longitudinal passage I3, having an opening I4, arranged at a point above the pis- IIO side or' the piston to the upper side.

ton 1, so that as the piston is forced downwardly the liquid can pass through the passage to the upper side of the piston, this passage constituting' the by-pass within the piston-rod, and for the purpose of regulating the size of the discharge-opening so that the rate ot' descent of the piston can be regulated 1 employ a tube 15, which surrounds the pistonrod for the greater portion of its length,'said tube extending through the cap K2 of the cylinder, and is providedwith a milled wheel 111 at its upper end, said milled wheel carrying a circular boss 17, which is graduated and provided with suitable indicating-numbers, and a pointer 111 is rigidly attached to the pistonrod, said pointer serving' to indicate upon the graduated boss the size of the opening eX- posed and from which the rate of descent can be judged. The lower end of the tube 1 is threaded, as shown at 111, and by turning the milled wheel 11 this tube is caused to move up or down upon the piston-rod, thereby enlarging or decreasing' the size of the opening 11, through which the oil passes from the under 1t will thus be seen that 1 arrange a by-pass for the liquid Within the piston-rod and arrange the controlling means upon the rod, thereby avoiding the necessity of supplemental bypasses and valves, which are liable to leak or get out of order. f

Any suitable liquid may be placed in the cylinder; but in practice 1 prefer to use oil, as 1 find it particularly adapted for my purpose.

r1`he piston-cup 11, held upon the end of the piston-rod between the metal disks 111 and 112,

arranged above and below the said cup, said disks being threaded upon the piston-rod and provided with registering perforations 1111, the cup also having perforations Which register with the said perforations 113, so that when the piston is moved upwardly the liquid above the piston will pass therethrough. r1`he passage or' the liquid through these perforations is prevented during the downward movement of the piston by means of a check-valve 111, mounted upon the smooth reduced end of the piston-rod and normally held against the disk 112 by means of a spring 115. A pin 111, passed through the lower end of the piston-rod, holds this spring' in place. This spring', together with the pressure of the liquid, keeps the valve firmly seated during the downward movement of the piston; but the valve is unseated during the upward lmovement of the piston, said unseating being accomplished by the pressure of the liquid above the piston, aided by the partial vacuum created below the piston, it being understood that the piston is only moved upwardly when the lamp is carried back to its initial or starting position.

1t will thus be seen that 1 not only provide for a gradual descent of the lamp,-but also provide for regulating such descent, so that prints can be exposed to the action of the light for a long or short period of time, as circumstances may require.

The glass cylinder is supported upon spiderarms L, which radiate from a tubular bearing L@ which rotates freely upon a tubular upright journal L2, having' a flat base L3, which rests upon the floor. A circular plate L5, of non-conducting' material, rests upon the top of the tubular journal L2, and liXed in said plate is an upright post M, surrounded by a tube M, said post and tube being insulated 'rom each other by means of an insulating-sleeve M2. Line-wires M3 pass upwardly through the floor through the tubular journal and are connected to the lower ends of the post M and tube hf vr1`he post and tube are circular and are of the same diameter, so` that the U-shaped spring contact-plates N and N' of the switch can contact therewith and can revolve or turn freely' thereon whenever it becomes necessary to turn or rotate the glass cylinder. The contact-plate N engages the post M, while contact-plate N engages the tube M', said contact-plates being carried upon the inner end of a rod N2, which works through a guide N3 and has a Coil-spring i '1 arranged thereon, an adjusting-collar N5 being arranged upon the rod and secured by a pin or set-screw for the purpose of applying 9 the proper tension to the spring i '1. A notch l NG is produced in the top of the bar adjacent its outer end for the purpose otl engaging a plate N1, carried by the strip B adjacent its lower end, the outer end of the rod working through the bifurcated portion and terminating in a loop or handle l 1", through which the i cable D passes after passing around the puli ley C2.

The U-shaped contact-plates N and N are secured yto blocks of insulating material N, fastened upon the end ot' the rod N2. The spring' N1 normally holds the contactplates out of engagement with the conductorposts; but by pushing the rod inwardly these vplates come in contact with the conductorpost and tube and close the circuit, and when the rod is so pushed in the notch Nb engages the plate N7 and holds the switch closed. For

the purpose of operating the rod by footpressure 1 employ an angled lever l 10, pivoted at N11 upon the shaft carrying' the roller 1 C2 and provided with an outwardly-extending .to the lamp, and the wire O2, leading from the f IOO rheostat, leads also to the lamp, said wires being carried up the strip B on the inner side to a point O3, and from there they lead to the lamp, the conductor-wires being slack to perfmit the lamp to move freely up and down.

When the switch is thrown out of engagement with the conductor-post, the current is broken and the lamp of course extinguished,

the entire cylinder or for the purpose of shutting off the lamp at any predetermined time I employ an adjustable button P upon the cable D, which button can be arranged at any desired point so that it will contact with the slotted or handle end of the rod N2, it being understood that as the lamp descends the cable moves, carrying with it the adjustable button P, and only a slight pressure is needed upon the outer end of the rod to throw the notch NG out of engagement with the plate I 7, and the spring N4 will immediately open the switch, shutting off light. The button P is held in position upon the cable by means of the friction-spring P', secured to the button by means of a screw P2, the ends of the plate being curved outwardly, as shown at P3, and adapted to bear against the cable. By means of this adjustable button I am enabled to automatically shut olf the light at any time during the descent of the lamp.

In order to prevent shadows of the lampbracket and conductor-wires being thrown upon the print, I employ a lamp-guide Q, attached to the lamp and which comprises the shank portion Q', leg portions Q2, and which straddle the strip B, and thereby cause the lamp to descend in a straight line, and the only shadows cast will be thrown upon said strip B and will not be thrown upon the prints. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the lamp-guide works upon the strip B upon the exterior, while the counterbalance-weight is guided upon the interior of said strip.

In Figs. 25 and 26 I have shown the manner of connecting the wires Ai to the rollers A2, said wires being ,connected to screw-plugs A5, fastened in blocks A6, carried at the ends of the rollers. The opposite ends of these wires A4 are connected to U-shaped springs A', said springs being fastened to the upper and lower rings A', as most clearly shown in Figs. l and 8. In this manner the proper tension can always be had upon the roller and curtain attached thereto.

In operation the lamp is raised to its highest position and held there by the button D2 engaging the fork D3. The switch at this time is of course open, and the operator can then place the drawings and the sensitized papers upon the exterior of the cylinder and cover them by means of the curtain, and the cylinder can be rotated, if desired, during such operation, thereby rendering the arrangement of the drawings and sensitized paper upon the cylinder much easier. After the drawings,&c., have been arranged, the button Dzlis disengaged from the fork D3, the by-pass of the piston-rod regulated according to the rate of descent desired, and the adjustable button P adjusted to the proper position. The rod N2 is then pushed inwardly, closing the switch and lighting the lamp. The lamp will descend gradually at the predetermined rate of speed, and owing to the lamp-guide and the arrangement of the wires no shadow will be cast upon the prints, but will be cast only upon the wooden strip B. As the lamp descends the counterbalance-weight ascends, the drum F is rotated, operating the pinion, which in turn operates the rack-bar and forces the piston downwardly, and this piston in turn forces the liquid from the lower end of the cylinder through the by-,pass of the piston-rod. During the printing operation the cylinder can be rotated for the purpose of inspecting the prints from the opposite side of the cylinder, and such rotation of the cylinder will not affect the switch nor the clamp nor any of the parts attached thereto. The moment, however, the adjustable button contacts with the rod it disengages said rod, and the spring carried thereby causes the switch to be opened and the light to be shut off.

It will be noted that the apparatus is not connected to the wall or ceiling and has no connection whatever with any portion of the room except the floor, and inasmuch as the line-wires pass upwardly through the iioor and the journal upon which the cylinder rotates it is obvious that there are no parts to become entangled, and the operator can pass freely around the apparatus, or he can remain in one place and turn the apparatus so as to bring any part thereof close to him. Thus it will be noted that I have provided a simple and eiicient construction of blue-print apparatus capable of accomplishing all of the objects hereinbefore mentioned.

Instead of the spring-actuated rod N2 and pitmen N13 employed for opening and closing the switch and illustrated in Figs. 2, 20, 2l, and 27 and 28 I may employ the modied construction, the details of which are clearly shown in Figs. 29, 30, and 31, and by referring to the said figures it will be noted that I employ a rod R, which carries the spring contact-plates N at its inner end and is sur- IOO IOS

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ieder-ring, and this catch is also bifurcated at its outer end, as shown at T2, and through which the cable D passes. A spring T3 normally holds the catch in engagement with the cylinder-ring and holds the contact-plates in contact with the posts. When, however, the adjustable stop P contacts with the bifurcated end of the catch, the said catch is thrown down, disengaging the notch T from the cylinder-ring, and the spring hl4 will then act to disengag'e the contact-plates and open the switch. To reset the parts, it is only necessary to press down upon the foot-piece S', as the latch T will be brought into engagement with the ring simultaneously with the closing of the switch. 'It will'also be noted that I produce a small opening 117 in the tube l adjacent the lower end for the purpose of permitting the escape of any oil which may pass upwardly between the piston-rod and tube.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

1. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a glass cylinder provided with means for holding printing material thereto, a bracket carried by the cylinder and from which depends a cable carrying a lamp together with means ca rried by the cylinder for regulating the rate of descent of the lamp, together with means carried by the cylinder for automatically opening and closing the circuit for the lamp.

2. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a base, a glass cylinder rotatably arranged upon said base, and provided with means for holding' the printing materials upon the exterior thereof, an electric lamp adapted to move vertically within the cylinder, a cable from which the lamp is suspended, means carried by the cylinder for winding and unwinding said cable, and means also carried by the rcylinder for regulating the rate of speed of the cable-Winding mechanism.

3. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a transparent cylinder provided with an enveloping curtain, an electric lamp adapted to be lowered into the cylinder, means carried by the cylinder for controlling the descent of the lamp, the electric conductors leading to the lamp, and a switch carried by the cylinder together with means for opening and closing the same, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a cylinder of transparent material of an electric lamp adapted to be lowered into the'cylinder a cable carried by the cylinder and from which the lamp is suspended, a cylinder adapted to contain a liquid, arranged upon the exterior of the glass cylinder and provided with a by-pass piston working in the liquid-cylinder and means for operatively'connecting the piston with the cable whereby the rate of speed of descent is regulated.

. 5. The combination with a transparent cylinder and electric lamp adapted to be lowered into said glass cylinder, a cable for carrying the lamp, the drum and pulleys around which the cable passes, the counterweight connected to the cable, a cylinder arranged upon the exterior of the glass cylinder and adapted to contain a liquid, said cylinder having a piston-rod provided with a by-pass, a valved piston working in the cylinder together with means for operatively connecting' the pistonrod with the drum around which the cable passes.

6. The combination with the glass cylinder having' a wooden strip, of a cylinder connected to the exterior of the wooden strip and having a piston-rod provided with a by-pass provided with a regulating-tube, the valved piston working in the cylinder, the piston-rod having a rack-bar connected thereto, a pinion with which the rack-bar meshes, a grooved drum mounted upon the shaft and carried by the strip, a lamp-guide carrying' a pulley, a pulley carried at the bottom of the strip, a cable passing around the pulleys and drum and connected toa lamp atV one end, and a counterbalanced weight at the opposite end.

7. The combination with a glass cylinder having' a vertical strip extending into the same, of an electric lamp adapted to descend into the glass cylinder and a lamp-guide comprising a shank connected to the lamp, and the leg portions adapted to straddle the vertical strip and guide the lamp as set forth.

8. The combination withag'lass cylinder and the bearing upon which itturns, of the journal upon which the bearing lits` the conductorposts carried by said journal, a switch carried by the rotating cylinder together with means formoving it into and out of engagement with the conductor-posts, an electric lamp carried by the rotating cylinder and the conductorwires leading from the switch to the lamp, as set forth.

A9. The combination with the journal supporting the conductors to which the line-wires are connected, the glass cylinder provided with a bearing turning upon said journal, the electric lamp adapted to be lowered into the cylinder, a cable for suspending said lamp, together with means for controlling' the movement of said cable, the contact-plates adapted to engage the conductors supported by the journal the rod for carrying said plates the conductor-wires leading from the plates to the lamp, a spring' for normally holding the plates out of engagement with the conductors, means for locking' plates in engagement with the conductors together with means carried by the cable for unlocking the plates, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a rotatable glass cylinder, having a strip at one side thereof, said strip having a guideway upon the inner side, cut away adjacent its upper ends, and bifurcated at its lower end, of the journal upon TOO IOS

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which the cylinder rotates, a bracket connected to the upper end of the strip and carrying a pulley, a grooved drum journaled in the opening of the strip, a pulley journaled in the bifurcated end of the strip, an electric lamp adapted to be lowered into the cylinder, a cable for suspending said larnp, said cable passing around the pulleys and drum, as described, a counterweight sliding in the guide- Way of the strip and to which the cable is connected, a cylinder arranged upon the exterior of the strip, a piston-rod having a controlled by-pass, a valved piston Working' in the cylinder, a rack-bar connected to the piston-rod, a pinion mounted upon the drum-shaft and with Which the rack-bar meshes, the buttons arranged upon the outer flight of the cable, the conductor-post and tube arranged as described, the spring-actuated rod having a loop J. H. WAGENHORST.

Witnesses:

L. W. CALLARD, N. O. FLEMING. 

